The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-19
THE BRIDGE DISASTER.
Continuation of the Inquiry Before the Com
misSioners-The Testimony Elected.

BosToN, March 18.-The Railroad Commis-
soners resumed their investigation of the Bussey
bridge disaster, to-day. Henry G. Allen. of
daily. About year ago he was informed that
certain bolts on the bridge were loose. and he so
informed Superintendent Folsom, who said he
would attend to it. He never noticed any sway
ing or jarring while crossing the bridge. Gen
orally the train was slackened up.
Theodore s. Moses, for forty years a civil en-
gineer. had known this bridge since its construc-
tion. He regarded the whole structure as a
mechanical deformity. It was peculiar in build,
and he thought it so dangerous that il there was
any deraiment of cars it must go down. He
also had premonition that something of this
sort would happen. and within two weeks had
spoken to George Folsom, suggesting that he
should place some barrier to protect it on the
side The bridge might have been made more
secure by putting it at right angles with the
road
James K Reed described the actioHs of the
second car, which he occupied at the time OF the
accident. The first sensation was like that felt
when horse car was off the track. The rear
portion of the car seemed to be bumping all the
time. The forward end OF the had crossed
the bridge, when he heard a snap and looked out
to see if the couplings were intact. They were.
There was nothing unusual in the car until it
was over the bridge He could not tell where
the sound of the snap came from. It was like
the swapping of piece of steel.
Rudolph Weimer. of Roslyndale, was in the
second car He noticed jarring until the car
was over the bridge. 1tseemed as il the car had
gone ahead and left the trucks behind.
Henry Shaw mechanical engineer, had been
going over the bridge since it was built. He had
some doubts about it. owing to the late vibra-
tions which he noticed every time he went
over it.
Superintendent Folsom explained the system
OF inspection of cars and Of repairing rolling
stock He rode over the bridge a great many
times, and never had tho slightest suspicion OF
its stability. The bridge was severely tested
when it was built.
Here the chairman put in a letter from the
Railroad Commissioners to Superintendent Fol
som, dated December, 1881, chasing among the
defective bridges the one over South street.
| while it calls attention to other bridges consd
| cred to be poor structures.
The witness said he received the letter in De
| cember, 1881, and the bridge was tested in Jan
| uary, 1882 No tests of that character had heer
| made since. He made alterations in the
| bridge after receiving the notice from the Com
| missioners, and did not put on any addtiona
| guard rails. and would never put on any if ht
had his way about it. He had never received
| report of the unsafeness of the BRIDGE Other
| than the report about the missing nuts.
The fireman of the wrecked train, Alfred e
| Billings, testified that he did notice anythin.
| wrong until the Boston end of the bridge wa
| reached. Then he felt shock that nearly threw
| him off his feet, and he heard loud snap. H.
| raised up and looked back, and saw the engin
| had broken apart from the forward car, and wa
running away from it. The car looked as if i
| was off the track. He though the engine parte,
| from the after passing the abutment TIL
| witness thought the bridge caused tho accident